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Man struck by CSX train, is critically injured

Published: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 11:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 11:49 p.m.

A man was critically injured Tuesday when a CSX train hit him in the 2400 block of Southwest Third Avenue.

Marion County sheriff's deputies said the man was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. The man survived the surgery, but Detective Erik Dice, the lead investigator, could not interview him.

The man's name has not been released pending notification of his family.

Officials said the incident occurred next to Country Town Village, a mobile home park.

Dice said he interviewed train officials, who told him they were approaching the area when they noticed someone lying across the tracks. They told Dice that they blew their horns repeatedly, hoping to get the person's attention so the individual would get out of the way.

Train officials said when they noticed the victim was not moving, they tried stopping the train but could not do so in time and it hit the man.

Neighbors living in the older-style mobile homes said they heard the horns blaring and the train locking up its brakes. They said they thought it was nothing because CSX trains frequently pass close by them and they've heard similar noises.

It wasn't until they saw the train stopped and law enforcement officials coming into the area that they realized something was wrong, they said.

Kristin Seay, spokesperson for CSX, said the train had left Waycross, Georgia, and was on its way to Winston in Polk County. The train had two locomotives and 132 cars. Of the 132 cars, 77 were empty, while the remaining 55 had mixed freight, Seay said.

Since the start of the year, two people have died when struck by a CSX train.

In late January, Anton J. Burden, 22, was struck and killed by a CSX train near his Citrus Park residence. Burden, who lived with his father and stepmother, was wearing headphones when he was killed, officials said.

Three months later, 37-year-old James Bare III was walking south on the railroad tracks near the 4700 block of Southeast 98th Lane. A CSX train was headed north on the tracks. The train's conductor told a sheriff's deputy they kept blowing the horn but the victim seemed to be mumbling to himself.

At the last second, the train official said the man jumped from the train tracks, but it was too late and he was struck.

In an interview with the Star-Banner, Bare III's father told a reporter that his son was taking medication for what he believed was bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

The investigation into Bare III's death is still ongoing, officials said.

<p>A man was critically injured Tuesday when a CSX train hit him in the 2400 block of Southwest Third Avenue.</p><p>Marion County sheriff's deputies said the man was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. The man survived the surgery, but Detective Erik Dice, the lead investigator, could not interview him.</p><p>The man's name has not been released pending notification of his family.</p><p>Officials said the incident occurred next to Country Town Village, a mobile home park.</p><p>Dice said he interviewed train officials, who told him they were approaching the area when they noticed someone lying across the tracks. They told Dice that they blew their horns repeatedly, hoping to get the person's attention so the individual would get out of the way.</p><p>Train officials said when they noticed the victim was not moving, they tried stopping the train but could not do so in time and it hit the man.</p><p>Neighbors living in the older-style mobile homes said they heard the horns blaring and the train locking up its brakes. They said they thought it was nothing because CSX trains frequently pass close by them and they've heard similar noises.</p><p>It wasn't until they saw the train stopped and law enforcement officials coming into the area that they realized something was wrong, they said.</p><p>Kristin Seay, spokesperson for CSX, said the train had left Waycross, Georgia, and was on its way to Winston in Polk County. The train had two locomotives and 132 cars. Of the 132 cars, 77 were empty, while the remaining 55 had mixed freight, Seay said.</p><p>Since the start of the year, two people have died when struck by a CSX train.</p><p>In late January, Anton J. Burden, 22, was struck and killed by a CSX train near his Citrus Park residence. Burden, who lived with his father and stepmother, was wearing headphones when he was killed, officials said.</p><p>Three months later, 37-year-old James Bare III was walking south on the railroad tracks near the 4700 block of Southeast 98th Lane. A CSX train was headed north on the tracks. The train's conductor told a sheriff's deputy they kept blowing the horn but the victim seemed to be mumbling to himself.</p><p>At the last second, the train official said the man jumped from the train tracks, but it was too late and he was struck.</p><p>In an interview with the Star-Banner, Bare III's father told a reporter that his son was taking medication for what he believed was bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. </p><p>The investigation into Bare III's death is still ongoing, officials said.</p>